Sick Baby

We hit three milestones around our house today! Rooster is 7 months old; he has started saying da-da (at no one in particular mind you); and he has his first ear infection.

He got sick Tuesday at my parents' house. He woke up in the middle of the night screaming for no apparent reason and would not be consoled despite our best efforts. Twenty mins into the shrieking, I gave him a dose of Tylenol as a last ditch effort, and he quieted down. Wednesday was filled with a snotty nose, watery eyes, coughing, sneezing, and a fever. Praise the Lord, we were in the car most of the day, and he seemed pretty content to sleep at an incline in his car seat.

Then last night...well last night was probably the most bitter sweet experience I've had as a parent. Bitter because my little boy was in pain. Sweet because he clung to me as I rocked him, sang to him, and prayed desperately that he would be able to sleep. Bitter because he would often waking up crying, drenched in sweat or shivering, and sweet because he would nestle his head into my shoulder and coo at me as I tried to make him more comfortable.

Today has been full of many similar sweet moments. Between the snuggling, snotty nose, and lots of spitting up (his poor tummy hasn't felt well either), we've found time for playing, giggling, reading, and even watching TV.  It's amazing to me that a child who can be so sick one minute can be so joyful the next. I'd like to say that I'm this happy when I'm sick, but I think this little boy might know more about that whole being joyful always thing than I do. Who else do you know that enjoys spending the day with snot on his face and having a thermometer put in unspeakable places (on second thought I think he might just like being naked)? That said, I'm grateful for my happy boy! Our day is much more pleasant when it's filled with giggles, even if they are sickly!